Sabin: DeMarco Murray's struggles put heavy burden on Cowboys defense

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Vernon Bryant/Staff Photographer

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) catches a pass in front of New Orleans Saints cornerback Patrick Robinson (21) during the first half of play at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington on December 23, 2012. Bryant went on to score a touchdown on this reception.

ARLINGTON — As DeMarco Murray stood in front of his locker surrounded by reporters, he must have felt like he had most of the afternoon when he had been bottled up by the Saints’ defense in a 34-31 overtime loss to New Orleans.

All eyes were on him as they had been when Murray had the ball in his hands earlier in the day. In a six-minute news conference, Murray patiently answered questions.

Not once did he mention the name of a Saints defender. But the Cowboys tailback did refer directly to New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees twice. There was a reason. Murray had a major role in the Cowboys’ plan to stop Brees, the brilliant conductor of the Saints’ high-powered attack.

“We wanted to run the ball a little bit more to keep their offense off the field,” Murray said.

Murray was supposed to help Dallas realize that goal. But he couldn’t. As the only player who carried the ball for the Cowboys on Sunday, Murray rushed 11 times, gained 40 yards and lost a critical fumble that led to a New Orleans touchdown.

With Murray unable to gain traction, the Cowboys’ grand scheme was foiled. Brees and the Saints held the ball for 41 minutes, 59 seconds — pecking away at Dallas’ patchwork defense for extended periods. New Orleans cobbled together four drives of 10 plays or longer, as Brees dictated terms from his protected pocket.

“I did notice they did have it for a really long time,” safety Eric Frampton said.

Watching from the sideline as Brees made one completion after another, Murray came to the sinking realization that New Orleans had used the Cowboys’ plan against them.

“They were keeping us off the field and making some good plays,” he said.

New Orleans stubbornly controlled possession for 21 minutes, 48 seconds in the first half, when Murray ran the ball only four times against a Saints defense that entered Sunday allowing 146.3 rushing yards per game.

Murray’s reduced workload was a troubling sign, even though the Cowboys trailed by only three points at halftime. Before Sunday, the Cowboys were 10-1 in games in which he had 14 or more rush attempts and 2-8 when he didn’t.

After Murray returned Dec. 2 following a six-game absence because of a sprained left foot, the Cowboys leaned on the second-year running back. Murray averaged 19.3 carries in three Cowboys victories earlier this month. He alleviated the offensive burden placed on Tony Romo’s shoulders during a season in which the quarterback has thrown the most passes in franchise history.

But on Sunday, Murray hurt the Cowboys more than he helped them. In the third quarter, with the score tied, the ball was stripped from Murray’s hands by New Orleans linebacker Curtis Lofton in the shadow of the Cowboys’ end zone. The fumble, at Dallas’ 5-yard line was the second Murray lost in a span of eight days after he had not committed a turnover in his previous 20 NFL games.

Already at the mercy of Brees, the Cowboys couldn’t deny New Orleans’ quarterback with their backs against their own goal line. Three plays after Murray’s gaffe, Brees completed a 5-yard touchdown pass to running back Pierre Thomas that pushed New Orleans ahead, 24-17.

“We gave them seven points right there,” Murray said. “We can’t turn the ball over in this league against a guy like Drew Brees.”

Murray knows that better than most. The quarterback he tried to keep off the field was able to stay on it because of the ground game’s futility.

“Disappointing,” Murray said. “Very disappointing.”

The words hung in the air as Murray, no longer confined by Saints defenders or reporters, left the locker room.

Follow Rainer Sabin on Twitter at @RainerSabinDMN

Wheels spinning

Since DeMarco Murray returned from a sprained left foot Dec. 2 against Philadelphia, he has rushed for 257 yards and three touchdowns on 69 carries. Here is a look a game-by-game look at Murray’s rushing totals this month:

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